On the face of it, the memes, the Auto-Tune remixes and the laughing seem purely celebratory. But what feels like celebration can also carry with it the undertone of condescension. Amid the hood backdrop - the gnarled teeth, the dirty white tee, the slang, the shout-out to McDonald's - we miss the fact that Charles Ramsey is perfectly lucid and intelligent.

We who? I didn't miss that.

In fact, being lucid and intelligent and rocking a dirty white tee, spitting slang and eating McD's is what makes him awesome.

Yes he did mention race at the end of the interview. Yes. So why not discuss what he said about race rather than discuss whatever reasons why you might guess people may have enjoyed the video. No matter what you think about that subject, the internet is a big place and I'm sure you can find a quote that will vindicate your position. But it isn't helpful to scold ourselves for liking the guy.

We are talking about the reaction to the video first and the substance second.

What I took from the video is a very Cleveland guy giving a very Cleveland interview. That tragic bit of self-hatred at the end is as local as a Bertman's mustard stain on a WMMS t-shirt on dollar dog night.

They're doing the job they signed up to do. They knew what it entailed when they started. While what a pediatric brain surgeon does, for example, takes an enormous amount of training and experience, it's still what he or she set out to do on a daily basis. That's being a good person. Being a hero, in my mind, requires going above and beyond one's normal life. Carnegie medals are not given to brain surgeons, even if those brain surgeons save lives daily; they're given to ordinary people who do the extraordinary.

So on that basis, Charles Ramsey is a hero. He could have done what numerous other people, in numerous other situations like this, have done over and over again for years: told themselves "it's not my problem" or "someone else will do something" or even "the bad guy might hurt me." He didn't. He acted. He was an ordinary person who did something that most ordinary people, history sadly tells us, would not do.

I don't think people mean to mock Mr. Ramsey. Instead, the laughter comes from the genuineness of his animated words and storytelling. In today's world, television and media personalities are watered down, homogenized, and void of anything considered unique, because they're trying to pin the status-quo meter, pretty much taking personality and color (pun not intended) out of things. What Mr. Ramsey did was be himself and get caught up in the moment, and it proved funny in a way that is undeniable. We laugh with him, not at him. If his reaction was manufactured in any way, we'd dismiss it. But it's real, and through that realness (and uniqueness), we all enjoyed it.

He's not the fringe of society that the internet laughs at because they are incredibly odd or a walking stereotype.

This guy has great comedic timing, hilarious choice of words fantastic interaction with the reporter/crowd. This guy is a comedian. He just so happens to live where he lives and looks like he looks.

The difference between him and other blacksploitation youtube videos is that almost anyone watching it would say "I wish I could do an interview like that and be that funny." as opposed to "I wouldn't want to do that and be laughed at."

Not once did I feel like celebrating this guy's deeds with a burning cross on his lawn, soooooo...no.

One of the benefits of being both of Irish/Welsh descent and a first-generation immigrant to North America is I generally don't have "white guilt". When Ramsey's ancestors were being bought and sold in, I imagine, the U.S. South, mine were having their non-English languages beaten out of them and/or starving in famines. I'm not saying it's equivalent, but I am saying I don't personally feel bad about societal situations (slavery, racism or the treatment of natives). I feel responsible for my own reactions and impulses. To take on "collective guilt" for the entirety of one's race is in its own way as pernicious a form of racism as is the usual "I consider people unlike me in the albedo scale to be inferior" sort of racism.

Dude was funny, a side porch raconteur type. Yes, and very Cleveland, from what I know of the barren, half-abandoned place.

I can't see why anybody would be laughing at him. This guy is just real. We appreciate him because he is a genuine person. We like to see ordinary people doing good things and Charles Ramsey is an ordinary guy who happens to have a gift for storytelling and is pretty entertaining to boot. Good for him.

I was starting to think I was the only person who just thought Charles interviewed like a friend or neighbor.

Charles seems the kind of guy I would hang out with. Maybe I grew up in a different type of neighborhood than the "I wear my self-inflicted racist shame as a crown" crowd.

And, as far as people building up their "I'm sorry I'm a racist" cred by outing themselves as having guilty laughter at his comment about "a little pretty white girl ran into a black man's arms", I wonder how many of these same people think it's just fine that some guys make good money with comedy just like that on stages and screens all over America.

Seriously, I thought that just about every average American probably had a friend or acquaintance with a personality like Charles, but apparently I'm wrong. That's sad. The Charles-es of the world are great personalities to buoy one's spirits. It's a shame some people have minimized him to be a racial concern.

JDawgNJ:I don't think people mean to mock Mr. Ramsey. Instead, the laughter comes from the genuineness of his animated words and storytelling. In today's world, television and media personalities are watered down, homogenized, and void of anything considered unique, because they're trying to pin the status-quo meter, pretty much taking personality and color (pun not intended) out of things. What Mr. Ramsey did was be himself and get caught up in the moment, and it proved funny in a way that is undeniable. We laugh with him, not at him. If his reaction was manufactured in any way, we'd dismiss it. But it's real, and through that realness (and uniqueness), we all enjoyed it.

This right here. I saw the dude for the first time this morning, on his "exclusive" interview with Anderson Cooper. Cooper had no idea how to deal with him or how to react to him. It was glorious. Cooper was asking the stupid, banal, predictable questions, and Ramsey was responding with the obvious answers, albeit in a very engaging and energetic fashion. I loved it. Not because I am a closeted racist, but because he was giving awesome answers to stupid questions.

Summa cum loudly:Jeeez....get real people. Firemen, policemen, soldiers and pediatric brain surgeons are heroes. I am not taking anything away from this dude, he seems cool and he helped the girl and all....but that is what practically ANY human being wouldshould have done in the same circumstances. Maybe rather then talking about segregation and racial issues we ought to talk about why just doing what you are supposed to do, like answer screams for help, is regarded by our culture as being heroic.

FTFY

The problem is NO ONE else did what he did. When you read articles about the police being called years ago for a woman with an infant banging on a boarded up window trying to get out, and naked women on leashes in the back yard, and the dude who even went over to the house with Mr Ramsey, you will see that although anyone should have done what Ramsey did, no one did.

Yes. They are...exactly because they signed up to do things you or I can't or won't do.

So on that basis, Charles Ramsey is a hero. He could have done what numerous other people, in numerous other situations like this, have done over and over again for years: told themselves "it's not my problem" or "someone else will do something" or even "the bad guy might hurt me." He didn't. He acted. He was an ordinary person who did something that most ordinary people, history sadly tells us, would not do.

Sorry, I disagree. Doing what you are supposed to do does not make you a hero unless you live in a society that is so depraved that doing nothing is the norm. Oh, wait a minute......

I've seen articles referencing Ramsey quotes that he feels a certain levl of shame for not having acted earlier and for not being suspicous enough while people were suffering in his own neighborhood. I don't know if that is a rational conclusion, but I think it allows a greater level of admiration from me. I can respect someone who focuses on what they could have done better rather than wallowing in momentary hype and shallow praise.

The white person who falls well within the boundries of average doesn't like angry black people and doesn't believe black people have a legitimate reason to be angry. Not every average white person thinks that, but it is common enough to be an average mindset.

Ramsey is undeniable black and he's likable. It's kind of a relief to white people.

In real life, white people and black people would like a guy like Ramsey. On film, white people like him, black people are uneasy because he comes across as a stereotype.

White people are amused by the stereotypical parts, but what they admire is his selflessness* and sense of unity.*

*ironically, not exactly core republican values in this era.

So the clip points to how easy it would be to fix the racial problem in the USA. White people-admit that you are oppressors, especially by indifference. Black people-stop being so angry and confrontational.

I think the central issue, if one exists at all, is classism, as oppossed to racism. We're talking about people who consider themselves on a higher plane, either socially, economically, or technologically, who are concerned with why other people find a third individual to be interesting or worth paying attention to. The story is fascinating. The narrative is delivered in the same voice my neighobors have used to talk about car accidents, local crime, the birth of grandchildren, and password problems accessing their network. Mr. Ramsey is telling the story in a very excited way that anyone could identify with after having a day like that. I would think that anyone assigning a uniform reason for all caucasians (or is it all non black people?) could be viewed as racist. Though it might bring less heat to the discussion if we simply considered anyone with an assumption that they knows why people view the video to be rather egotistical.

/I'll admit I had similar thoughts that made me a little uneasy//until I said to myself, 'Self, quit thinking you have any idea of what motivates the viral phenomenom! You aren't so damn bright.'///slashies for peace.

While I'm sure some people were laughing at him I think most were laughing with him at his brash demeanor and his complete lack of a filter. His color or intelligence never really came to mind aside from the absolutely hilarious assertion about a pretty white girl running into a black mans arms.

Wow! Bullshiat... Even liveleakers hailed him as a cool heroic dude which actually says a hell of a lot considering the amount of sickening racial comments you can find there.I'm not even going to read an article that has such a retarded title, and only paints in black the only good thing about this whole kidnapping story.

Yes. They are...exactly because they signed up to do things you or I can't or won't do.

So on that basis, Charles Ramsey is a hero. He could have done what numerous other people, in numerous other situations like this, have done over and over again for years: told themselves "it's not my problem" or "someone else will do something" or even "the bad guy might hurt me." He didn't. He acted. He was an ordinary person who did something that most ordinary people, history sadly tells us, would not do.

Sorry, I disagree. Doing what you are supposed to do does not make you a hero unless you live in a society that is so depraved that doing nothing is the norm. Oh, wait a minute......

by your own logic, the people being paid to do it are doing what they are supposed to be doing by ana greement saying give me X and ill do Y or ill get fired for not doign wht im supposed to be doing, and therefore are not heroes... good job.

Summa cum loudly:Jeeez....get real people. Firemen, policemen, soldiers and pediatric brain surgeons are heroes. I am not taking anything away from this dude, he seems cool and he helped the girl and all....but that is what practically ANY human being would have done in the same circumstances. Maybe rather then talking about segregation and racial issues we ought to talk about why just doing what you are supposed to do, like answer screams for help, is regarded by our culture as being heroic.

No. The first guy didn't do it. And if you think long and hard about being in the same situation for real, you may find yourself awfully close to "not getting involved."

gunga galunga:ghiabug99: He's not the fringe of society that the internet laughs at because they are incredibly odd or a walking stereotype.

This guy has great comedic timing, hilarious choice of words fantastic interaction with the reporter/crowd. This guy is a comedian. He just so happens to live where he lives and looks like he looks.

The difference between him and other blacksploitation youtube videos is that almost anyone watching it would say "I wish I could do an interview like that and be that funny." as opposed to "I wouldn't want to do that and be laughed at."

This.

"When a pretty, young white girl runs into the arms of a black man, you know there's a problem" was said with perfect comic timing.

His timing was dead on. "I mean, there was NOTHING exciting about this guy! [beat] Until today." Come on, anyone of any colour could have said that and it would have had people laughing.

ghiabug99:He's not the fringe of society that the internet laughs at because they are incredibly odd or a walking stereotype.

This guy has great comedic timing, hilarious choice of words fantastic interaction with the reporter/crowd. This guy is a comedian. He just so happens to live where he lives and looks like he looks.

The difference between him and other blacksploitation youtube videos is that almost anyone watching it would say "I wish I could do an interview like that and be that funny." as opposed to "I wouldn't want to do that and be laughed at."

This.

"When a pretty, young white girl runs into the arms of a black man, you know there's a problem" was said with perfect comic timing.

I can tell you what exactly went through my head when listening to him.

Hes a hero so I am going to listen to what he has to sayHes a good story tellerHes really funny

This.

Seriously, fark off, NPR. Not everything is an ACLU worthy crime against minorities. There were exactly two things going through my mind after watching that interview. First, I wanted to give that man a hug, because he is farking awesome. And second, I want to buy him a beer.

Does it count if I assumed people were laughing AT him, but after people's reaction today, I went back and watched it, and it's pretty obvious he's trying to entertain. He's enjoying the heck out of being himself, and telling the story like he was telling it to his buddies over a beer, and it's a great story that he tells in a great way.

This just in, many people that write for and speak on public radio wouldn't know a sense of humor if it hit them in the face with a rubber chicken/However, I think the 'wait, wait, don't tell me' folks are very funny//I even enjoy "Click and Clack" when I stumble on them///slashies!

Listen, I am fully aware that conservatives and liberals play these games but the politically correct bullshiat is so over the top. Look, I don't think most people care what race Mr. Ramsey is, during a time of tragedy he was able to bring a smile to peoples' faces. The guy is simply funny but oh no, you should feel guilty and re-examine the motives behind your laughter. I went to college in the early/mid-90s and I was more then guilty of playing the race-card and being overly politically correct, it's been in the liberal playbook for decades. Feel free to think I am full of shiat and no, I am not a Republican.

Headso:But race and class seemed to be central to the celebrity of all these people.

Not true douche, just a few months ago it was that white hippy dude Kai. It was almost the exact same scenario guy does something heroic but is actually a bit eccentric and is funny on camera when telling the story.

Valiente:Not once did I feel like celebrating this guy's deeds with a burning cross on his lawn, soooooo...no.

One of the benefits of being both of Irish/Welsh descent and a first-generation immigrant to North America is I generally don't have "white guilt". When Ramsey's ancestors were being bought and sold in, I imagine, the U.S. South, mine were having their non-English languages beaten out of them and/or starving in famines. I'm not saying it's equivalent, but I am saying I don't personally feel bad about societal situations (slavery, racism or the treatment of natives). I feel responsible for my own reactions and impulses. To take on "collective guilt" for the entirety of one's race is in its own way as pernicious a form of racism as is the usual "I consider people unlike me in the albedo scale to be inferior" sort of racism.

Dude was funny, a side porch raconteur type. Yes, and very Cleveland, from what I know of the barren, half-abandoned place.

The Irish were getting sold as slaves in the American and Caribbean British colonies, just like Africans were. Cromwell sold political prisoners (and their families) by the thousands

But race and class seemed to be central to the celebrity of all these people.

Not true douche, just a few months ago it was that white hippy dude Kai. It was almost the exact same scenario guy does something heroic but is actually a bit eccentric and is funny on camera when telling the story.

I watched an interview he had this morning with George Snuffalufagus Stephanopoulos. George asked him how he's getting through all of this attention. Ramsey just took a can of Red Bull and put it in front of the camera. This guy's real and hilarious.